Faced with a flurry of speculation after comments earlier this week, Philippines President Benigno Aquino denied having ever asked the US for military drones for the surveillance of disputed waters in the South China Seas.
During the interview at the start of the week with the Agence France Presse, Aquino said that it was “we might” ask the US for the drones, saying that it would be one possible way to increase monitoring in the area around Scarborough Shoal.
The US State Department confirmed not having been asked for the drones yet, but suggested that it would be possible because the US was committed to enhancing the Philippines “maritime domain awareness.”
Chinese media had expressed anger about the idea, and Aquino is now saying that the Philippines own navy is sufficient to keep an eye on the disputed territory, which is unoccupied but contains significant mineral resources.
Where there's smoke there's drones.
Quit using the Philippines as US tool to irritate the Chinese.
If the RP resists, they too will have 'rebel' problems like Syria.
US could care less about the people there living in poverty
under a small ruling class, and trying to pretend the old
problem in the south is Al-Kida-bull.
"Early last month, Tausug villagers on the Southern Philippine island of Jolo heard a buzzing sound not heard before. It is a sound familiar to the people of Waziristan who live along Pakistan's border with Afghanistan, where the United States fights the Taliban. It was the dreaded drone, which arrives from distant and unknown destinations to cause death and destruction. Within minutes, 15 people lay dead and a community plunged into despair, fear and mourning." This was reported on March 5, 2012. Are the drones already being used and we're just now being informed of it? Wouldn't be the first time.